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TIPS FOR EARTHQUAKE SAFETY The island of Hispaniola (shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic) is located in a seismically active zone between two tectonic plates. The North American plate in the North The Caribbean Plate in the South

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TIPS FOR EARTHQUAKE SAFETY 1) Most everyone who simply "ducks and covers when buildings collapse are crushed to death. People who get under objects, like desks or cars, are crushed. 2) Cats, dogs and babies often naturally curl up in the fetal position. You should too in an earthquake... It is a natural safety/survival instinct. You can survive in a smaller void. Get next to an object, next to a sofa, next to a large bulky object that will compress slightly but leave a void next to it.

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TIPS FOR EARTHQUAKE SAFETY 3) Wooden buildings are the safest type of construction to be in during an earthquake. Wood is flexible and moves with the force of the earthquake. If the wooden building does collapse, large survival voids are created. Also, the wooden building has less concentrated, crushing weight. Brick buildings will break into individual bricks. Bricks will cause many injuries but less squashed bodies than concrete slabs.

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TIPS FOR EARTHQUAKE SAFETY 4) If you are in bed during the night and an earthquake occurs, roll off the bed. It will be safer than staying on the bed or under it. Hotels can achieve a greater survival rate in earthquakes by posting a sign on the back of the door of every room telling occupants to lie down on the floor next to the bottom of the bed during an earthquake.

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TIPS FOR EARTHQUAKE SAFETY 5) If an earthquake happens and you cannot easily escape by getting out the door or window, then lie down and curl up in the fetal position next to a sofa, or large chair. 6) Most everyone who gets under a doorway when buildings collapse is killed. How? If you stand under a doorway and the doorjamb falls forward or backward you will be crushed by the ceiling above.

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TIPS FOR EARTHQUAKE SAFETY 7) Never go to the stairs during an earthquake. The stairs can swing wildly due to the fact they do not have beams or pillars supporting them. The stairs are a likely part of the building to be damaged. Even if the stairs are not collapsed by the earthquake, they may collapse later when overloaded by fleeing people. They should always be checked for safety, even when the rest of the building is not damaged. I f stairs are the only way out, once the tremors stop, quickly walk down the stairs one person at a time.

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TIPS FOR EARTHQUAKE SAFETY 8) Get near the outer walls of buildings or outside of them if possible - It is much better to be near the outside of the building rather than the interior. The farther inside you are from the outside perimeter of the building the greater the probability that your escape route will be blocked. Once outside get to an open area away from tall buildings in case of secondary collapse

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TIPS FOR EARTHQUAKE SAFETY 9) People inside of their vehicles are crushed when the road above falls in an earthquake and crushes their vehicles; which is exactly what happened with the slabs between the decks of the Nimitz Freeway... The victims of the San Francisco earthquake all stayed inside of their vehicles. Everyone killed could have survived if they had been able to get out of their cars and sit or lie next to them. All the crushed cars had voids 3 feet high next to them, except for the cars that had columns fall directly across them.

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TIPS FOR EARTHQUAKE SAFETY If you are driving and feel a tremor, stop your car at the side of the road and get out. Make sure that you are not on a bridge or under electric cables. Be aware of the buildings around you.

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What to Do After an Earthquake Expect aftershocks. Listen to a battery-operated radio or television for updates Use the telephone only for emergency calls Open cabinets cautiously Stay away from damaged areas Be aware of possible tsunamis if you live in coastal areas – get to higher ground Help injured or trapped persons as responders will be a long time getting there

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What to Do After an Earthquake Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, gasoline or other flammable liquids immediately. Inspect utilities – if you smell gas at your place open the windows and doors and let it vent – know where the main gas valve is and shut it off then get out Be aware of downed live electric lines connected to your residence or office If injured or trapped – contact Sierra Base (SOC) , If you are uninjured call your work supervisor to report your status and await any further instructions

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Can We Reduce the Impact of Earthquakes and Other Disasters? Reduce the impact of earthquakes and other disasters by adopting suitable disaster mitigation strategies Always have an evacuation/emergency kit packed and readily available – no heavier than 15kgs Contains cash, water, non-perishable food for days, copy of passport and UN ID, medication, change of clothes/uniform, flashlight, personal hygiene items, toilet paper, bug repellant, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, list of contact numbers, map of your city or region etc Know where your colleagues are located nearby and their contact numbers – be sure to check on them, they may need your help Always be aware of your surroundings